Race preview: Epic night time desert duel to decide WTCC titles

Guerrieri to drive, Monteiro to make hero’s return at WTCC Race of Qatar

The most wide-open FIA World Touring Car Championship season in a decade will go down to the wire in the Middle East next week (30 November-1 December) when three coveted titles are decided at Qatar’s spectacular floodlit showdown.

After 18 races over nine weekends in four continents, it all comes down to the duel in the desert when the FIA World Touring Car Championship for Drivers and Manufacturers, plus the WTCC Trophy for independent racers are settled.

The third WTCC Race of Qatar will conclude a thrilling year of high-speed action and intense competition with 10 drivers having taken race wins and seven still in mathematical contention for the overall crown prior to some classic Friday night fever touring car style.

However, with 6.5 points separating the title top two, Polestar Cyan Racing’s Thed Björk and Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team’s Norbert Michelisz, Volvo Polestar 12.5 points in front of Honda and Tom Chilton a mere half a point ahead of Mehdi Bennani in the WTCC Trophy and Rob Huff only seven points behind Chilton, the 2017 season closer at the Losail International Circuit will be the ultimate winner-takes-all battle.

Guerrieri to drive, Monteiro to make hero’s return at WTCC Race of Qatar

Tiago Monteiro will make a hero’s return to the FIA World Touring Car Championship paddock in Qatar next week with Esteban Guerrieri continuing as the factory Honda driver’s stand-in.

Monteiro was leading the WTCC standings following the trip to Argentina in mid-July but hasn’t raced in the series since after being injured in a high-speed testing crash in Spain in September.

Although he’s made huge strides in his recovery, the Portuguese will be on-hand in a supporting capacity only at the Losail International Circuit where the Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team could celebrate a double title triumph.